Cops: Man caught in act trying to 'steal' impounded car

Published 12:46 pm, Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Police said Michael Kondrat tried to steal back his car after it had been towed.

Police said Michael Kondrat tried to steal back his car after it had been towed.

Photo: File Photo

Cops: Man caught in act trying to 'steal' impounded car

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A police officer on patrol Monday night was in a Black Rock Turnpike parking lot when he heard a hammering sound. When he went to check it out, police said the officer found Michael Kondrat, 64, trying to break into Conway's Auto Repair where his car had been impounded.

Kondrat, police said, was trying to retrieve his car from the shop, where it had been towed Saturday after he was stopped for driving an unregistered motor vehicle, according to the report.

During that police stop, Kondrat was charged with operating under suspension, improper use of plates, lacking insurance and operating an unregistered vehicle.

It was towed by Conway's garage, police said, because Kondrat still owed that business money from an earlier incident when it also had been towed. Police said Kondrat took the car from Conway's before without paying.

Police said they believe Kondrat, who has faced charges for disruptive incidents at the Jewish Home for the Elderly, where his mother is a resident, and at his former family home on Four Seasons Road, had already tried to steal the car before he was caught Monday night.

Because of the earlier incident, police said, Conway's employees had removed the battery from Kondrat's car to prevent him from driving off. But when he was taken into custody, Kondrat appeared prepared for that scenario since he had brought a spare car battery with him, police said.

The patrol officer on Monday said he saw Kondrat break a piece of the stockade fence at Conway's, and he had already damaged three others with a hammer. He also had a pry bar in his possession and a stolen marker plate, police said.

Kondrat was charged with criminal attempt to commit fourth-degree larceny, criminal attempt to trespass, criminal mischief and theft of a license plate. He was held on a $1,000 bond and was scheduled to have been arraigned Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court.

According to court records, Kondrat also faces charges in Stratford for motor vehicle violations, trespassing and violation of probation and was arrested by Bridgeport police in November 2012, charged with engaging police in pursuit.

Though he has been evicted from the Four Seasons Road home, police said he still gave that as his current address.